Zimbabwe’s opposition leader demands election reform, citing Malawi’s model and flaws in Zimbabwe’s 2023 vote.

Nelson Chamisa, former leader of Zimbabwe’s Citizens Coalition for Change, has urged the country’s Electoral Commission to adopt Malawi’s transparent election model, citing its peaceful transition after former President Peter Mutharika won 57% of the vote with a conceding opponent. Chamisa criticized Zimbabwe’s electoral history, highlighting the 2008 violence that killed over 300 opposition supporters and the 2023 polls’ logistical failures—such as delayed ballot delivery in urban areas—that disproportionately affected opposition voters. SADC observers found the 2023 elections fell short of regional and international standards. Despite ZEC’s alleged bias, Chamisa pointed to the CCC’s success in blocking Zanu PF’s two-thirds majority as evidence of public demand for reform, calling for a more accountable, citizen-driven electoral system.